Neo "The One"

On 5/7/2024 at 6:00 PM, trademarkcomics said:

Red is too OG

Um, I like it?!  I was Never a fan of getting books signed by people that did not actually work on a book so 2 is fine. I’d prefer 3 for writer, penciler and inker but 2 is a good start. I have books I had signed (my own personal “witnessed” signings) including George Perez and Jim Lee. I’ve had them on the side to send to “another grading company” that ends inBS:: for over a year now and just could never pull the trigger on it. Now I get to find out if those “John Byrne” signatures I have are real! And no I won’t have the signature “graded” wtf is that?!

52 wow.  Spot on.

On 5/3/2024 at 11:04 AM, RockMyAmadeus said:

@RockMyAmadeus - I mean does everyone even know?  HR could make all of the defects on that book (or any for that matter) DISAPPEAR, that is to say, disappear along with the book itself...

On 5/2/2024 at 8:16 PM, RockMyAmadeus said:

www.herorestoration.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On 5/2/2024 at 4:02 PM, Neo "The One" said:

Just like pressing does not improve a grade... Oh, who said that?!  I agree it is not a trimmed edge, but just a missing piece. I mean, CGC removing restoration (color touch) by cutting it out is more the definition of  trimming IMO!

Ok - so I just had a mental 'smoke' and am replying and quoting my own post.  Hypothetically if there was color touch on the edge of a comic and CGC cut it out - would that qualify as trimming!?  Now I really need to smoke.

On 5/1/2024 at 2:44 PM, Paul Kosnik said:

This isn't trimmed.  It meets neither the letter nor the spirit of the definition of trimmed.  Firstly, trimmed is entire side (or substantially so, perhaps in the case of a misscut comic).  And trimmed, by definition, improves the appearance and is intended to deceive.  This cut does not improve the appearance, cannot deceive, and is for one small section of the edge.  This is just a defect, and will be graded as such if they do their jobs correctly.  Here is CGC's definition of trimmed:

• TRIMMING – A technique that involves cutting off the edges of a comic book’s cover or pages to remove defects and sharpen edges. Unlike the other restoration techniques, trimming results in an improved appearance through destruction (loss of paper).

Just like pressing does not improve a grade... Oh, who said that?!  I agree it is not a trimmed edge, but just a missing piece. I mean, CGC removing restoration (color touch) by cutting it out is more the definition of  trimming IMO!

On 4/30/2024 at 10:29 AM, DC# said:

Absolutely - my comments were not about letting him off the hook in any way.    More questioning if he ever had the business acumen to make this business work in the first place.    And creating necessary cash flow for such long-duration activities through advance payments can quickly turn into a sort of Ponzi scheme if you aren't actually making any money on completed items.    The next person's advance covering the losses for prior work.  

Man - Ponzi scheme is the best way to sum up this whole mess!  

On 4/30/2024 at 9:04 AM, DC# said:

I don't know how he could have ever accurately priced out his costs like this - dozens if not hundreds of books in various states over the course of months and years.   He could have been losing money on each and every book from the start

I mean, ok.  He could have ben losing money - and that is understandable - but honestly he should have just returned the books.  It seems he was a small operation (I hesitate to say 1 man since he had the NJ location) that got in way over his head.  That is understandable.  What is not ok is stealing - which is what this all boils down to.

On 4/29/2024 at 6:10 AM, KCOComics said:

If I'm reading it right, it seems like he only had 57 orders to ship back? 40 for pressing and 17 for resto... 

Since he has no intention to do the work he was paid to do, I feel like he could pack and ship 57 orders in a weekend.  

For all his exhaustion, it's amazing he found the time, energy and money to open a store front, list people's books on eBay and apparently buy an RV. 

Not only that, but I vaguely recall when he filed for bankruptcy didn't he say he had like 0 books (I mean a very low number)?!  I think he's again incriminating himself - basically lying either in the bankruptcy filing or to A.Romeo and everyone else.

On 4/28/2024 at 8:43 PM, revat said:

I was more alluding to the fact that he didn’t go to anyone’s home/property and steal comics.  Or make tangible, criminal threats of physical harm that would be viable in court.  I’m not sure internet rants would rise to the level.  At least to my limited knowledge.  It seems like all books were voluntary physically given to him.  
 

these are factors that would often more likely lead to incarceration, or longer terms of incarceration.  Of course it also depends on the jurisdiction and judge/jury/lawyers and the situation at large.  I just wouldn’t get my hopes up about significant jail/prison time.  

Agreed. My hopes are not extremely high. But who knows. Just to make a car analogy - if you hire someone to work on your car and instead they take the money and send your car to a chop shop and get paid for the stolen car is that not theft?  I’m not expert either but seems straightforward enough. Hero Restoration was a company, not just “some guy”. Mike and HR had a good reputation, references and other businesses promoting his company. Not just some random presser. (My opinion).  

On 4/27/2024 at 7:30 PM, revat said:

I hope everything goes right going forward for the victims, and that suspect faces justice with harsh punishment…

but I wouldn’t get my hopes up about a lot of jail time.  Nothing was taken by force or physically stolen, and the defendant doesn’t seem to have committed or threatened any violence.  

Hey @revat - as Sauce Dog alluded to, on the original thread Mike actually did threaten violence before that thread was locked. There were a lot of other things 'said'.  Books may have been stolen.  I mean, I sent him my book and he sold it on eBay without my authorization or knowledge.  No compensation was given to me.  I like many others were giving HR the benefit of the doubt, and they strung me along for months before ultimately closing shop.  I head 'rumors' of a robbery of his shop that may or may not have been staged as well as other 'interesting' things.  These things have all been mentioned either on the original thread or this one.  I also believe there is a third thread that goes waaaaay back to when Mike, 'introduced' himself to the community.  Kind of like that Seinfeld episode.  

On 4/25/2024 at 9:26 PM, KCOComics said:

As an aside, if the Detective's name is Flake Cantina and he only agrees to take the case if you video chat with him, there is nothing to be suspicious about! 

Just email his business associate who shares the same email address for references. 

Very funny. 

 Still makes time to read this thread in between restoring books to sell (that aren't his).

On 4/24/2024 at 1:32 PM, Sauce Dog said:

The detective also reached out to me, so looks like the wheel of justice is about to start rolling. 

 

That is Awesome SD!

For those still interested.  I received another inquiry on the website from a customer of HR.  I've given him the same advice.  Reach out to a lawyer, Police and DOJ.  Sent HR the book and money to be worked on in 2019 never heard back from Mike.  I've removed the contact info for privacy concerns.  

On 4/17/2024 at 6:07 PM, wombat said:

I assume he could just be selling books on a different account. 

I mean anything is possible, but my guess is that he's selling them in other venues.  If he's even still doing that.

On 4/17/2024 at 10:43 AM, Sauce Dog said:

Has there been more confirmed sales? I know of 5-6 that were on ebay which could be linked to customers explicitly, but beyond those nothing can be matched to a customer. There are certainly more customer books that have been sold (Which I know for a fact...*sigh* maybe one day I'll be able to do something with the slew of info I have which I currently cannot release for a variety of reasons), but most of them I'm sure the customer themselves don't even know their books have been sold in the first place.

Hey SD - I'm not aware of more confirmed sales, but I downloaded a copy of each of the NINE (just counted - ha!) that were up on ebay for, 'historical purposes'.  I'm not sure if each sale has been linked to the true owner or not, but I don't want the information to get lost since ebay has taken the records of those sales down.  I think its a good idea to put them up on the site in case someone is looking for their book and wasn't aware of the ebay sales.  If anyone knows - please feel free to reach out to me.

On 4/14/2024 at 5:04 PM, phretbored said:

 

One day... this thread's gonna end.

Not today my friend...  BTW I love the smell of napalm in the morning!

CISCFCSExternal@uspis.gov	Fri, Apr 12, 7:50 PM (4 days ago)
to me

Thank you for contacting the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.  The information you provided has been entered into our national Fraud Complaint System.  Your reference number is C#2179288.  If we need more information, you will be contacted directly.  Please hold on to any original documents related to your complaint.
Please note that Postal Inspectors do not have the authority to ensure that your losses are refunded.
We may share the information you provided with other agencies when there is a possible violation within their jurisdiction.
In the future, if you have complaints about mail fraud or mail theft, you can visit our website, http://postalinspectors.uspis.gov, to file a complaint online.

United States Postal Inspection Service

On 4/3/2024 at 3:13 PM, sfcityduck said:

Where is this in Oregon? I grew up in Eugene.

I believe Lebanon, but it's my understanding he worked out of his house / farm.  Others may know more.  Also had a satellite office in NJ.  

On 4/2/2024 at 12:53 PM, paulailp said:

Any victims please also report to the USPS investigation department.

 

under Crimes committed via the Internet or aided by computer devices by intruders seeking access and information to exploit or steal.

 

https://ehome.uspis.gov/fcsexternal/default.aspx

 

The special Agent that I knew with them have now retired but they were absolute rockstars. 
 

With the number of victims let’s hope that they may take interest in this.

 

Again we have a legal system not a justice system but every bit helps. The more victims and the greater the amount hopefully equals more traction on an investigation. 

 

So I've filed a complaint with USPS investigation department today.  *Fingers Crossed*  I still plan to go to my local PD in NY to see if they have resources to investigate as well.  Also added a new link to the USPS investigation department on HeroRestorationComic.com 

On 4/2/2024 at 12:25 AM, Kripsys99 said:

I don't think anyone has called the police yet, as unbelievable as that seems. At least no one who has posted on these boards has mentioned placing a call yet...

It's funny (interesting).  You've said this multiple times, and TMK no one has said otherwise.  

On 4/1/2024 at 4:21 PM, Steviehuv66 said:

Just to clarify the above post.  I’m friends with the original poster of the thread from the spring of 2023.  DeChellis returned my FF 5 but stole my 2k.  I filed my complaint with the Oregon DOJ.  Nothing happened for months but I was recently contacted by them (not the local police) and they informed me that they are taking a closer look at the case due to the combined high dollar loss in this crime.  Many of us have filed with the Oregon DOJ.  Of course there is no guarantee that anything positive will happen but we have to try.

Thanks for the clarification. So nothing from the police?  I’m disappointed if that is the case. 

Cracking up.  Ok - seriously though.  I went back to the "Original" thread about this mess and contacted the person who started it.  The good news is that according to him (though his buddy - please don't kill me on this one) people have gone to the police, and it is firmly on their radar.  He's saying even if you got back your books (in whatever condition) if you lost money STILL GO TO THE POLICE!  For those with 'trust issues' Here's a snippet (didn't include who posted it because it was a DM)